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Composition: Composing Out Of The Box Portraits
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Mar 11, 2018 00:38:35   #
SharpShooter Loc: NorCal
 
Yes, it's time for another installment on Composition.
Lets talk about how to shoot portraits, especially those that are out of the ordinary.
I've been complaining that we never talk about actual photography, so Lets do that.
I know there are a lot of portraits shooters here and plenty that shoot them professionally, so lets dive in.
As always, this is for the benefit of those that are not portrait shooters but maybe would like to learn more. Maybe it will make you brave enough to shoot everybody in your family till they start running when they see you coming! LoL
This is NOT another snapshot vs photograph post.
It's meant to help other less knowledgeable shooters to move to the next level or those at the next level to go beyond that.
Ask questions or answer them. Post a creative or unusual composition, lets see if we can get a 100 pages of good info! LoL
I'm not here to moderate this, just to get the ball rolling. I'm certainly not an expert. So feel free to contribute if you have experience, as some of you do, like Ed S, The Captain or Pale.
So here goes!!!
Don't respond till after my second post where I'll add some pics. Give me a few minutes to Post them so this doesn't get Auto-moved.
Thanks
SS

Reply
Mar 11, 2018 00:45:05   #
SharpShooter Loc: NorCal
 
SharpShooter wrote:
Yes, it's time for another installment on Composition.
Lets talk about how to shoot portraits, especially those that are out of the ordinary.
I've been complaining that we never talk about actual photography, so Lets do that.
I know there are a lot of portraits shooters here and plenty that shoot them professionally, so lets dive in.
As always, this is for the benefit of those that are not portrait shooters but maybe would like to learn more. Maybe it will make you brave enough to shoot everybody in your family till they start running when they see you coming! LoL
This is NOT another snapshot vs photograph post.
It's meant to help other less knowledgeable shooters to move to the next level or those at the next level to go beyond that.
Ask questions or answer them. Post a creative or unusual composition, lets see if we can get a 100 pages of good info! LoL
I'm not here to moderate this, just to get the ball rolling. I'm certainly not an expert. So feel free to contribute if you have experience, as some of you do, like Ed S, The Captain or Pale.
So here goes!!!
Don't respond till after my second post where I'll add some pics. Give me a few minutes to Post them so this doesn't get Auto-moved.
Thanks
SS
Yes, it's time for another installment on Composit... (show quote)


I'm posting 3 portraits that I've done recently.
I like to do tight portraits that are engaging. I like to use props help to grab attention and add some creativity.
I'm not looking for critique but it's always welcome.
Lets roll this along as a learning tool for all levels.
So post away!!!


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)

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Mar 11, 2018 04:35:37   #
Leicaflex Loc: Cymru
 

Good work on the portraits.

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Mar 11, 2018 05:01:26   #
SharpShooter Loc: NorCal
 
Leicaflex wrote:

Good work on the portraits.


Thanks!
The hope is that we can generate a lively discussion about portraits that are not the typical formal studio business look.
The more creative approaches that make good portraits but less stereotype. Nothing wrong with the formal business look that we all know but that there are alternatives that allow us to be creative and still make our subjects look good and that they like!
Thanks Leica!!!
SS

Reply
Mar 11, 2018 05:24:14   #
R.G. Loc: Scotland
 
I don't do formal portraits, but I have this on Watch. My guess is that you need to get the subject to create a feeling of sharing a moment of intimacy with the camera.

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Mar 11, 2018 06:12:11   #
Red Sky At Night
 
I am so happy to see this as I have a fairly new camera that I am putting on Manuel for the first time today, a brand new lens, and my grandkids are coming for a visit in two weeks. My plan was to shoot, shoot, shoot while they are here. I am hoping to get at least a couple of each of them that will be keepers. My granddaughter will be elegant. My grandson will be a clown. Am hoping to catch both of their personalities. The timing of this is perfect and I look forward to learning a lot. Can’t wait to hear ideas and direction from all of the pros. Nice portraits!!

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Mar 11, 2018 07:18:32   #
06ultra
 
Thank you SharpShooter for starting this topic! You're pictures are great with the first one being absolutely stunning! Nice work. I am going to have an opportunity to do some portraits later this year and have started researching the topic so this thread couldn't have come at a better time. I don't have a clue yet about lighting, camera settings or composition. Any chance you could share how you're pictures were taken and the equipment that you used? I just got my new FF and I'm going nuts getting that set up. Everything I have taken so far has been under exposed. I shoot manual and have found I had the metering set to spot but with the highlight-weighted setting turned on. So I changed that and it has helped but something else still isn't right. My camera is a Nikon D750 with the 24-120 lens and it's a whole lot more complicated than my D300s.

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Mar 11, 2018 14:43:55   #
SharpShooter Loc: NorCal
 
06ultra wrote:
Thank you SharpShooter for starting this topic! You're pictures are great with the first one being absolutely stunning! Nice work. I am going to have an opportunity to do some portraits later this year and have started researching the topic so this thread couldn't have come at a better time. I don't have a clue yet about lighting, camera settings or composition. Any chance you could share how you're pictures were taken and the equipment that you used? I just got my new FF and I'm going nuts getting that set up. Everything I have taken so far has been under exposed. I shoot manual and have found I had the metering set to spot but with the highlight-weighted setting turned on. So I changed that and it has helped but something else still isn't right. My camera is a Nikon D750 with the 24-120 lens and it's a whole lot more complicated than my D300s.
Thank you SharpShooter for starting this topic! Yo... (show quote)


Ultra, thanks and thanks. Doesn’t look like a lot interested in portraits!
Your setup is very good for portraits.
First and third shots are at f8, iso 100 and sync at 160th.
I’m using an 85 1.8 but I can move back and forth to get framing. Your zoom should work well.
I did not want a shallow DoF, hence the f8.
I’m using a beauty lighting setup so using 4 strobes for a nearly shadowless look.
To control your light better, you may have to add light or control the ambient better.
If you’re on full manual, I don’t see that the meter function should come into play?
The magnifying shot has the least DoF but was actually shot at f16 but I’m in very close so the lens is producing its maximum DoF at its close to minimum focus distance.
I would get a speedlight if you don’t own one and just stick it on the camera. Once you know how to use the speedlight well, then add some effects like bouncing of a reflector, a wall or the ceiling etc.
ultra, thanks for participating!!
SS

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Mar 11, 2018 16:12:12   #
06ultra
 
Thanks for you're reply SharpShooter! I will print out you're method and study it and, practice, until I get it to work. I do have an SB-800 speedlight and several other lens like a 50mm 1.4, 18x140, & 28x300 but was thinking between the 50 and the 24x120 I should be set. The person that asked me to do the shoot said she also has a larger ring light (?) but has never used it but was hoping to with this shoot. Fortunately she is not planning this until the end of summer so I have ample time. Regarding you're photos, in the top one, I noticed a faint glow of light around the top and sides of her hair. I love this effect and really want to achieve it in addition to having the backdrop around the head slightly illuminated for another shot. Again, thanks and I hope this thread goes for awhile. I want to do the grandkids school pictures too.
Ultra

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Mar 11, 2018 16:26:33   #
redhogbill Loc: antelope, calif
 
.

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Mar 11, 2018 19:35:54   #
CO
 
This is a good topic. You photos are really excellent. The only quibble I would have are the double catchlights in the eyes of model #1. Of course, that's subjective and people may have different views on that.

I see what you're talking about with photo #2. You had to stop down to f/16 to achieve more depth of field. I can see that her face and hair are in good focus but it seems that the ring on her finger is not in good focus because the depth of field is shallow.

I attended a studio shoot about two weeks ago and had a problem with depth of field. I was using my Tamron 45mm SP VC f/1.8 lens. I took this photo from about 6 feet away. The aperture was f/3.2. I can see that her face is in good focus but the flowers she's holding are not. A depth of field calculator shows me that the DoF would only be about 11 inches.


(Download)

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Mar 11, 2018 20:07:12   #
davefales Loc: Virginia
 
SharpShooter wrote:
I'm posting 3 portraits that I've done recently.
I like to do tight portraits that are engaging. I like to use props help to grab attention and add some creativity.
I'm not looking for critique but it's always welcome.
Lets roll this along as a learning tool for all levels.
So post away!!!


Intriguing concepts. I'm still uncertain about No.2 but it is an attention grabber.

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Mar 11, 2018 20:10:57   #
CO
 
I don't have many out of the ordinary portraits. These might be some. We used three fresnel lamps with barn doors attached to get this high contrast, Old Hollywood glamor look.


(Download)


(Download)

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Mar 11, 2018 20:27:50   #
SharpShooter Loc: NorCal
 
davefales wrote:
Intriguing concepts. I'm still uncertain about No.2 but it is an attention grabber.


Dave, thanks! I’m interested in your first impressions on #2. What about it is it that you are uncertain about?
It IS an example of out of the ordinary. Kinda going where most don’t go!!
Which is what the topic is about.
Thanks
SS

Reply
Mar 11, 2018 20:50:19   #
RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia
 
CO wrote:
I don't have many out of the ordinary portraits. These might be some. We used three fresnel lamps with barn doors attached to get this high contrast, Old Hollywood glamor look.


I especially like #2.

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